West Islanders off to Dragon Boat World Championships

Three West Islanders will be off to Australia in September to compete in the 2007 World Dragon Boat Racing Championships. This year’s Canadian National team is made up of the most Montreal-area paddlers ever, including Daniel Surprenant and Janice Gallant, both of Dorval, and Anne Jeannet of Pointe Claire.

“It’s really the best of the best,” said Jeannet, 45, who teaches physical education at Marianopolis College. All national team members train year-round and had to go through arduous try-outs before being selected for the World Championship squad.

While dragon boat racing has been called one of the fastest-growing water sports in the world, it is not an Olympic sport and is therefore not funded by Sport Canada.

“Each athlete going to these World Championships is paying their own way in terms of flight, accommodation, food, even right down to the Team Canada uniforms,” Jeannet said.

To help cover the expenses, some of the team’s paddlers will be hosting a Barbeque Fundraiser at the McAuslan Brewery’s St. Ambroise Terrace on the banks of the Lachine Canal on Sept. 6. Proceeds raised during the event will go towards helping the Montreal-area team members cover the costs of participating in the World Championships, which can go well over $4,000 per teammate. “Anything helps,” Jeannet said.

While professionally competing in dragon boat racing can entail huge personal costs, Jeannet believes it is well worth it: she was part of the 2005 Canadian World Championship team that won gold against top-seated China in the 200m sprint race in Berlin, Germany, and says it was a remarkable experience.

“To be on top of that podium was so exciting and I’d absolutely love to relive that with my teammates,” she said. “It’s so much fun. It’s teamwork. And it’s the honour of representing Canada at an international level.”

The Barbeque Fundraiser will take place Sept. 6 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the McAuslan Brewery’s St. Ambroise Terrace, 5080 St. Ambroise in Montreal. There are no tickets or reservations required.

The 2007 World Dragon Boat Racing Championships will take place in Sydney, Australia from Sept.19 to 23. To find out more about the competitions and to keep track of the Canadian National team, visit www.dragonboat07.com.au.